The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-12-15
the WIDOWS PUMPKINS.

1t was brilliant October morning
he grass all sparkling with frost, the
trees waving their red jeweled arms to
the sunshine, and Eliakim Ellis was
driving serenely down Hay Hill.
II amt a poet" thought he, "but
if was could write lot OF rhymes
about this. Why, it's poetry all the
way through. And-eh? how?-what?
Who's that?"
1t was the Widow Hepsy Hall,
standing at the door of her little one
storied house and reckoning with her
long. lean arms toward him. The
farmer drew his rein.
"Hold on, sorrel!" he apostrophized
his steed. "You amt never in a hurry
when want you to be, SO I calkelate
you can stand still bit now. Wal,
Mis- Hall, what can I dew for We this
morning."
"Fve got some pumpkins that I
want to SELL" said the widow Hepsy.
''Drefful likely ones"
"Pumpkins?" called Eliakim. ''Why,
bless your soul, Mis- Hall, pumpkins
is dreg in the market just now.
The pumpkin crop has turned out
powerful good, thank Providence, and
our folks is feedin' 'em to the caows."
A shadow OF dire disappointment
crept over the old woman's face, as
she stood there, unconsciously pictur-
esque, against the curly hop tendrils
and crimson woodbne leaves that
sarlanded the doorway. The tears
came into her dim eyes.
''Then l may as well give it up"
said she. in accents OF despair. "For
l hain't nothing else to sell; and Be-
Indy had set such store on my comm
down this autumn afore cold weather
set in" ...
"Eh?" said Mr.. Ellis, good-natured-
iy. "You was d goin' down to Be-
lindy's. eh?"
81 can't without no money" said
the Widow Hepsey Hall. "And Twas
sort OF calculatin' on them pump
kins. The corn hasn't amounted to
nothin', and the weasels has tux all
the poultry. and the dried berries
widowed that last dog days weather,
and the carpet weavin' business is
awful dull; so what be to do!''
Cant We put off your visit" said
Eliakim, thoughtfully flicking the top
off a cluster OF saucy ox.eyed daisies
that grew close to his wagon wheels.
"Belindy's little boys got the
Group" said Mrs. Hall, lugubriously.
"And her husband has fell off scat
fold and broke his leg. And if ever
Pm wanted there. it's now"
II swami" calculated honest Ella.
kim, as he realized what the double
meaning OF poverty and misfortune
was "Fetch me them pumpkins; I'll
buy 'em, anyhow"
''Ill let you have the lot for dol
lar" said the Widow Hepsey, wistful.
ly. '"They's Jest out in the corner
"Ain't gathered, eh?"
"Bless me! who've l got to gather
'em?" reproachfully retorted Mrs.
and ME with that crick in my back"
Eliakim Ellis's heart smote him.
Who was he, to complain of alittle
trouble, when the Widow Hepsey was
SO much worse off than himself?
So he alighted and led Sorrel Iabo-
siously down the stony cart track to.
ward the cornfeld, where. amid the
harvested shocks, cleaned the ruddy
gold o. pumpkins innumerabie.
"Pumpkins!" screamed Mrs. Ellis,
when her husband drove into the
barnyard at noon. "Pumpkins!"
Why, Eliaklm Ellis what on earth are
you bringing pumpkins here for?
Amt we got the barn chambers full,
and the lots full, and the very cattle
won't cat 'ems Be you clean gone
crazy?"
Mrs. Ellis was high-cheek. boned
female, with projecting iron teeth and
hard greenish eyes, like badly colored
marbles. She was one OF those who
worshiped gain as the fire-worshipers
fell down before the sun. "Money is
money!" was her favorite axiom.
And Eliakim felt his heart sink
within him as he faced her stern, un-
compromising gaze.
"They're jest few" he began.
ga few'' shrilly echoed his wife.
'The Vaughn is heaped full! And we
a-throwing of 'em away every day!
That's Jest a mans calculatin!"
"Jest few" said Eliakim, hitching
desperately on the first section of his
speech, "that I've brung hown here to
sell for Mrs. Hall. There amt much
market up that-a-way, you know,
Loisy."
And" ne added to himself, 'good-
ness knows how glad I'd be to sell 'em
il had the chance! / amt lynn no.
howl"
Mrs. Ellis gave prodigious sniff.
Don't you fetch that there truck
inside of the dooryard, 'Liakim!"
said she. jest dump 'em on the
roadside and let the neighbors' hogs
eat them up as quick as they can!'
But Mr.. Ellis took advantage OF q
tin-peddler coming along on the other
side OF the street and engaging his
helpmeet's attention, to smuggle in
the load OF pumpkins.
IL won't waste 'em, anyway" said
he, eff anybody's hogs is to eat 'em
it may as well be mine"
That afternoon. when he came in to
supper, a thing happened which had
never before befallen him in his married
| life.
He found the tea.kettle cold, the
graham gems unbaked, the table UNI
spread, his wife crying piteously.
"Eh,"t said Eliakim, blankly.
'What in all creations the matter
now? You amt sick, be you Loisy?"
"Yes, / bel" sobbed Mrs. Ellis.
'sHeartsick, 'Liakim. Oh, what hev I
done? I've sold them OF gray pants
O. yourn to the tin peddler, and never
remembered how I'd put that
tllree-hundred dollar coupon bond
you gave me to keep,in the pocket, be.
cause / calculated no burglars would
take pair O. ragged old pants. Oh,
dear! oh, dear!"
For one minute Eliakim Ellis stood
Silent A hundret1 dollars was hun.